Emily Eddington, a 2006 Monmouth College graduate and the morning anchor for WSIL-TV in southern Illinois, was named Best Anchor for a medium market television station at the Illinois Broadcasters Association's (IBA) 2011 Silver Dome Awards.
The awards were presented at the conclusion of the IBA's annual one-day statewide conference June 15 in Normal, Ill. Over-the-air broadcast stations and on-air talent in small, medium, and Chicago market radio, and medium and Chicago market television were honored with the “Silver Dome Award,” the state’s most prestigious broadcast performance award.
“The Silver Dome Awards’ prestige probably results from the fact that the entries are judged by out-of-state broadcasters,” remarked Dennis Lyle, president and CEO of the IBA. “It’s the ultimate compliment to have a panel of judges who have never seen or heard a station’s or on-air talent’s work before recognize you as “best of state.”
IBA-member stations compete in individual categories specific to on-air newspersons, personalities, plus news and public affairs programs. Many stations also compete for “Station of the Year” honors. Eddington's station, WSIL-TV Carterville, received “Medium Market TV Station of the Year” honors for the second consecutive year.
Whitney Thorpe-Klinsky, “Miss Illinois 2010” presented winners with their Silver Dome Awards, one of Miss Illinois’ final annual duties before surrendering her crown to the next Miss Illinois, who is determined each year at the Miss Illinois Pageant in July. BMI recording artist John Ford Coley entertained the 200+ attendees at the annual awards dinner sponsored by the Illinois Army National Guard. Competition was based on material that aired during the 2010 calendar year. Colorado state broadcasters judged this year’s competition.